Атлант расправил плечи
Account Overdrawn
"Inmyopinion,"saidathin,pallidmanwithaneatmustache,"theRioNorteLineseemstohavebecomeafinancialburdenwhichthecompanymightnotbeabletocarry—thatis,notunlesscertainreadjustmentsaremade,which—"Hedidnotfinish,butglancedatMr.Weatherby.Mr.Weatherbylookedasifhehadnotnoticedit.
"Jim,"saidthechairman,"IthinkyoumightexplainthepicturetoMr.Weatherby."
Taggart’svoicestillretainedapracticedsmoothness,butitwasthesmoothnessofapieceofclothstretchedtightoverabrokenglassobject,andthesharpedgesshowedthroughonceinawhile:"Ithinkitisgenerallyconcededthatthemainfactoraffectingeveryrailroadinthecountryistheunusualrateofbusinessfailures.Whileweallrealize,ofcourse,thatthisisonlytemporary,still,forthemoment,ithasmadetherailroadsituationapproachastagethatmaywellbedescribedasdesperate.Specifically,thenumberoffactorieswhichhaveclosedthroughouttheterritoryoftheTaggartTranscontinentalsystemissolargethatithaswreckedourentirefinancialstructure.Districtsanddivisionswhichhadalwaysbroughtusoursteadiestrevenues,arenowshowinganactualoperatingloss.Atrainschedulegearedtoaheavyvolumeoffreightcannotbemaintainedforthreeshipperswheretherehadoncebeenseven.Wecannotgivethemthesameservice—atleast,notat...ourpresentrates."HeglancedatMr.Weatherby,butMr.Weatherbydidnotseemtonotice.
